Among all the books in the saga read so far, with this one I lost a bit of the rhythm. Amid the daily occupations and the university that didn't give time to read to my heart's content, I unfortunately took a long time to read it. But finally, I did it!

The story doesn't lose its cadence. It has an interesting plot, very well-developed situations, and fascinating characters. Even the most secondary ones have something to tell, providing a foundation. The reading moment was very pleasant and exciting.

Interestingly, this is the book in the saga where the protagonists are not in Lallybroch. No part or chapter takes place there or even mentions it, and I even missed that. Besides Jenny, of course. Continuing from the end of "Tambores de otoño" with Brianna and Roger already settled on Fraser's Ridge. Jamie and Claire adapt to the environment. With such an uncertain future, the upcoming Regulation War, and the revelation that both of them die in a fire in 1776.

Jamie as a grandfather is totally adorable.

Three things:

1. I'm happy about the return of young Ian.

2. I missed the appearance of Lord John Grey. Ugh. I really like him.

3. It's already five books and they still haven't revealed (said) who the man is that Frank Randall sees outside the house in Inverness in 1945 observing Claire through the window. I NEED TO KNOW!

The experiment with the gem "confirms" that Jemmy is Roger's son and thus can travel in time like Claire and Brianna. Jamie can't, unfortunately, because in my mind I imagined him traveling to the 20th century. Haha!

Now, seriously, I always thought that THAT man was Jamie. But since he's not a traveler, I don't know what to think anymore. And because of the letter from Frank to Reverend Wakefield in the fourth book that Roger reads to Jamie at the end. To quote something:

  And yet, I investigated. I searched for the man, Fraser. And perhaps I found him. At least, I found a person with that name and what I could find out coincided with what Claire had told me. Whether it's because she told the truth, or because she turned an illusion into a real experience... well, there was a man. I'm sure of that!

And then...

  And yet - I have a strange feeling about James Fraser, almost a memory, as if I had seen him somewhere.

There's also the false gravestone of Jamie in St. Kilda. That makes me angry, not Frank. I'm angry when an author wants to make a good character look bad to justify that the protagonist has chosen another. Sorry, Diana, everything was fine until that.

And finally... Stephen Bonnet and William Buccleigh MacKenzie must die @#%&*; The first one obviously, for being a traitor. The second one too for what he did to Roger. Let him cry!

There is an abundance of events taking place in this novel.

It commences with a Scottish Gathering, where Jamie, Claire, Brianna, Roger, Jemmy, Fergus, Marsali, Germain, and Joanie all assemble to rekindle old friendships and forge alliances.

There are two weddings (Brianna and Roger, and Duncan Innes and Jocasta Cameron) and three baptisms (Jemmy, Germain, and Joanie) on the agenda.

During the Gathering, Lt. Archie Hayes issues a proclamation regarding the Hillsborough riots, vowing to bring those involved to justice.

Lt. Hayes also presents Jamie with a summons from Governor Tyron, instructing him to raise a militia to combat the Regulators.

Jamie shows the letter to Roger, who will accompany him on this mission.

The seeds of dissent are sprouting in the colonies, but the extent of it in North Carolina remains an unanswered question.

Jamie and Roger seem to bear the brunt of every situation.

Stephen Bonnet still looms large in the triangle between Roger and Brianna.

The question of Jemmy's parentage, whether it is Roger or Stephen, haunts them.

Claire's knowledge of history is both a boon and a bane.

The love between Jamie and Claire remains unwavering.

We also witness the fluctuations in Brianna and Roger's marriage, yet watch it grow stronger.

And a beloved character makes an appearance, perhaps to stay.

As I mentioned at the outset of this review, there is a great deal happening in the novel.

The characters are so vividly portrayed that they feel like family and friends.

We observe what motivates them, what hinders them, and what facilitates their growth.

The plot is so intricately woven that the subplots seem seamless, although some are gradually unravelled.

The historical research is thorough.

The descriptions and settings transport the reader right beside the characters, experiencing life in the 1770s.

This is an outstanding novel. I highly recommend reading the Outlander series in sequence to fully appreciate the experience.

Now, it's time to re-read the next novel, A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

The original article is not provided, so I can't rewrite and expand it specifically. However, I can give you a general example of how to expand an article to about 300 words with line breaks:

**Original Article**:
The cat is sitting on the mat. It looks very cute.

**Expanded Article**:
The cat is sitting on the mat.

It is a small and fluffy cat with soft fur that seems to be inviting to touch.

The way it is sitting there, with its tail gently twitching, gives the impression of a certain calmness and relaxation.

Its eyes are bright and curious, looking around as if exploring the world from its cozy spot on the mat.

Overall, it truly looks very cute, and it's hard not to be charmed by its presence.

You can provide the original article, and I will follow your requirements to rewrite and expand it for you.

The Fiery Cross - Outlander book 5 is an epic read. It's an extremely long book, almost 1500 pages. However, I found the story a bit slow at times. I felt it could have been 500 pages shorter. The beginning and middle were rather uneventful. The characters lived their happy lives, with details of hunting, eating, nursing, talking, drinking, healing, feeding their animals, growing herbs, and all the other farm tasks they had to do that season. But I do love Diana Gabaldon's writing. It's accurate, full of detail, and easy to follow. In this book, I missed the action, struggles, wars, politics, and the drama of loved ones trying to find their way back to each other. I hope 'A Breath of Snow and Ashes' has more of that for me to enjoy. Clare and Jamie remain my favorite couple. Bree and Roger, on the other hand, are quite annoying. I even had a momentary thought that Roger would die and Bree would move on. Shhh, don't tell anyone! I also like to read more about Fergus, Young Ian, and Jenny. As usual, the end made up for everything. Diana Gabaldon knows how to please her readers with a cliffhanger.

Overall, The Fiery Cross is a good book, but it could have been better paced.

Perhaps even 2.5? I don't know yet. The non-existent plot and the length of the book were annoying. But I still like the characters

Finished my reread for Outlander Readalong 2024.

It has been an absolute pleasure to embark on this rereading journey. The story of Outlander is so rich and captivating, filled with vivid characters and a thrilling plot.

As I reread each page, I was once again drawn into the world of Claire and Jamie. Their love story is both passionate and heart-wrenching, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.

The details in the book are amazing, from the descriptions of the Scottish Highlands to the historical events that are woven into the narrative. It really makes you feel like you are there, experiencing everything along with the characters.

I can't wait to continue the Readalong and discuss this wonderful book with others. It's going to be a great time!

4.0 Stars
This has truly become a comfort series that I eagerly return to each and every holiday season. The books within this series are indeed quite long, yet I have found myself completely captivated by the diverse and interesting characters and their engaging stories. Each character has their own unique personality and backstory, which makes it easy to become invested in their lives and cheer for their successes. The plots are filled with twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat, and I often find myself staying up late into the night to see what will happen next. Whether I'm looking for a way to unwind after a long day or simply want to escape into a different world, this series always delivers. It has become a staple of my holiday reading and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

Gabaldon invests a significant amount of time and descriptive effort in this novel.

It neatly ties off many loose ends left dangling in DRUMS and introduces the reader to a vast array of new characters. The story picks up right where DRUMS ended, at a gathering of some of the Scottish colonial settlers.

Brianna and Roger are set to marry and have their son, Jemmy, baptised. However, when a proclamation arrives from the Governor of North Carolina, everyone is alerted that rebellion against the British King will not be tolerated.

As local sheriffs disrupt the matrimonial plans, those within the group manage to make alternative arrangements. Just then, a missive arrives for Jamie. The Governor has tasked him with creating a militia to quell dissent in the Colony, which is more of a directive than a request.

As everyone returns to Fraser's Ridge, Jamie begins making the necessary preparations. An eventual battle ensues, pitting the militia against a group of Regulators who are determined to fight against Britain's continued rule in the area.

Roger becomes deeply involved in the events and suffers greatly as a result, which brings the Frasers closer to him, highlighting their familial strength. Brianna and Roger also have to grapple with various issues related to Jemmy and their relationship.

Gabaldon shifts the romantic and relationship focus to the next generation of characters, putting Brianna, Roger, and Stephen Bonnet into a complex parental triangle. Roger struggles with Jemmy's potential parentage and even goes so far as to learn some genetics from Claire to understand the implications.

Roger and Brianna must face many of the same issues that Claire and Frank did years ago. While Gabaldon left much of the awkwardness of the Claire-Frank-Jamie triangle to small details in VOYAGER, a thorough exploration takes place in this novel, providing some interesting insights for the reader.

Claire's knowledge of history can be both an advantage and a disadvantage as she watches Jamie prepare for the early stages of the War of Independence, which is sure to divide the colony and keep everyone on edge.

As old enemies return to conclude their storylines from previous novels and new foes begin to establish long-standing hatred, Jamie and his family grow closer through peril and tragedy, demonstrating that the family bond can endure significant strain.

The novel offers many vignettes, including encounters with ghost bears and wild boars, snake bites, attempted executions, war drums, and Scottish folk songs, to educate and entertain the reader.

Told in a unique way that only Gabaldon can manage, the reader is in for a long and convoluted story, but never strays too far from the main plot.

Some have criticized this book as a turning point in the Outlander series, claiming that it dragged on and derailed the built momentum. However, I would like to remind these readers that this series is not for the faint of heart or those easily bored.

Much of Gabaldon's content plays a crucial role in later novels, as the reader will discover in this installment. While some topics may seem minor in the narrative, they become central with the reemergence of characters or new developments in their storylines.

There were indeed sections of the book that took up a lot of space and could perhaps have been trimmed or edited out. However, I believe there is a reason for their inclusion, and the reader can choose to skim through them, hoping that a reread will not be necessary in the future.

That being said, as a reread for me, I gained much more from this novel than I did the first time around. The underlying history of the story begins to heat up and will only become stronger and more interesting as the series progresses.

Gabaldon, like George RR Martin perhaps, has the ability to envision the entire forest from the acorns currently on the ground, and for that, we should give her the benefit of the doubt. She has shown that she is in control and has earned our trust.

Kudos to Madam Gabaldon for persevering with her longest novel to date. Its content, although dense for some, is highly appealing to Outlander enthusiasts.

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This was truly great!

I'm completely loving Brianna as a character. In this particular installment, it made me cheer for her in a big way. She is so strong and simply kicks butt left and right. It's really impressive to see her growth and determination.

Roger, on the other hand, needs to stay in the house. I've kind of gotten a bit tired of him constantly getting kidnapped. It feels like a bit of a repetitive storyline at this point.

Overall, it was a great continuation of the story. The plot twists and turns kept me engaged throughout. I'm super excited to start season 5 of the show now. I can't wait to see what adventures and challenges await the characters. It's going to be another thrilling ride!

Second read - 2021
I was reading along with the show, but unfortunately, I fell behind. I had forgotten just how massive these books are, yet they are wonderfully written. I definitely have to finish this one and then read the next to catch up. Winter is truly a great time for big books!!

First read - 2008
Although I really do love this series, book 5 seemed to drag on and on without really advancing the story significantly. Certainly, it didn't feel like it was worth over 1,000 pages. That being said, Gabaldon is a master at weaving characters and including an abundance of historical fiction details. She gives you just enough to make you want to read more.

I'm looking forward to the next installment, but I just hope it's a little less focused on the details of colonial life. I now know more than I ever wanted to know about changing diapers and gutting animals in pre-revolutionary America. It would be nice to have a bit more variety in the topics covered in the next book.

Well, I finally finished The Fiery Cross.

*sigh*

I absolutely LOVE these books. This installment was no exception.

I found that this installment had so many deep emotional scenes. When I finished, I felt that I had connected to the characters, emotionally, more than ever before.

Starting with The Gathering, when Jamie calls his people out and they all hold hands. The wedding scene between Roger and Brianna was both hilarious and touching. The various incidents at the Gathering really set up so much for the story. I love how Diana Gabaldon weaves the tale with details so deep, and how it all comes together in the end.

My complaint after "Drums of Autumn" was that, while I cared about Roger and Brianna, I didn't feel as emotionally connected to them as I did with Jamie and Claire. In fact, I didn't really like Brianna very much. However, in Fiery Cross, I found that the deeper exploration of the relationship between Roger and Brianna was very satisfying. Roger especially gave a whole new facet to the face of the family living at Fraser's Ridge. His brush with death, when he was hanged, was especially heart wrenching. The loss of his voice, and his constant doubts as to the paternity of Jemmy, and his own marriage really made me sympathize with him.

The atmosphere of Frasers Ridge is intoxicating. The natural beauty she describes. The danger. Fraser's Ridge is a character in itself.

I love these characters. When Roger almost died, before I realized that he was alive, I put my head down and cried. It was horrible!! But it was so well written, and that's the beauty of this author. His reaction to his "almost death" was heartbreaking for the entire family and as a reader, you felt it yourself.

Wee Ian!!! I honestly didn't think we would ever see him again. I thought for sure he would turn up dead, or only mentioned in memory. I was thrilled when he came back. Because I enjoyed this character so much, I was thrilled that he now knows the family secret of the stones.

"I knew you weren't a wee fairie Auntie Claire!"

My favorite quote.

It's done. It's over.

**faints**

Review to come.

6/2/16

Ok, folks, here comes THE REVIEW

..You might want to put on a seat belt. There is a LOT to say for this one.....

Ok. This book. Ahem. If you already read it, you probably know the first thing on anyone's review is that the book was SLOW. And I mean agonizingly, bang head on the wall, scream in frustration SLOW. Fifteen chapters were spent, in essence, on one scene, the great Gathering. Where many things were supposed to happen, but it took nearly twenty chapters, if we include the wrap-up clean up, for them to finally occur. It was truly agonizing and torturous. I even fell asleep every time I tried to read it.

The rest of the book didn't really improve. It continued at its crawling pace, and it took me many days to finish just two chapters at a time. I even started using it as a precursor to my naps. Near the end, maybe 85% in, she sparked a little more interest with her murder mystery at the plantation. However, that was another drawn-out event that seemed like a rip-off of Gone with the Wind.

She also fought for plot with random scenes hunting down Stephen Bonnet, who, as far as villains go, is a disappointment compared to B. J. Randall. Bonnet is like Puff the Magic Dragon in comparison. Ugh, my Randall! He was my heartthrob. Just look at him!

Anyways, the most severe error in the book that really pissed me off was when Jamie was bit by a 'poisonous' snake. Come on, snakes are venomous. Since she bothered to specify the type of snake, it made it even worse. Rattlesnakes expel venom!

Learn this lesson well, Gabaldon. Don't disappoint me again. Other than that, this wasn't one of my favorites from the series. But based on the reviews of the next book, it should improve. So, cheers to that. I'll hold my breath and hope for the best.